Almost Rubicon - Family camper, weekend overlander, TJ tower

[B34c0n]

Putting my build thread together

I call it an almost Rubicon since it's the max tow setup. The wider/stronger axles with limited slip(vs lockers) but the computer "lockers" that work just fine for what I do with this gladiator. It has the 8 speed. The real difference is the transfer case not being the 4:1. I also don't care for all the dash upgrades from the Rubicon.

Goals:

• Be a reliable camp rig for the future family(my TJ is not that)
• Be a comfortable long distance off-road rig. Generally more capable than my friends to get them out of trouble
• Be able to tow my TJ to hard rock crawling locations

The base:

• Max tow Sport S
• Firecracker red
• Freedom top
• Truck bed coating
• Cold weather package
• Black alloy wheels

What I've done already

• Gator truck bed cover
• Rock hard 4x4 sliders
• Badlands apex winch
• Rugged Ridge Arcus stubby bumper

What I plan to do

• Iron rock off-road 2 inch coil spacer(on hand
  • Bilstiens shocks
  • 2 inch lift Mopar control arms
  • 2 inch lift Mopar sway bar end links
• Auxbeam switch panel (on hand)
  • Let me know if you have recommendations for routing the wires and fuse box
• 34" AT3W falken wildpeaks
• Led fog lights
• Some form of front skid
• Get rid of the ugly Arcus hooks
• 8" screen swap
• Tazer(on hand)
• Kenwood ham radio (switches between rigs)

How it started featuring the little red Bantam

The jeeps

New bumper

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[B34c0n]

Here are some photos from my modifications to the JCR rack. I'm not quite done yet. But these make the rack work with the hard bed cover. Without modification the rack hits the same locations the bed cover bolts into.

I plan to make it a bit shorter and reduce how much it overhangs the edges.

https://www.jcroffroad.com/product/VABR.html

 

[B34c0n]

Got my Amfib snorkel in. Not super keen on the black plastic look so I sanded the texture down and paint matched it. Install soonish

My makeshift paint booth. This way I can close it and keep the bugs off as it dries.

 

[jtjeff]

Good looking rig! Looking forward to seeing what you do with it. This is the same reason I bought a JT.

 

[B34c0n]

Good looking rig! Looking forward to seeing what you do with it. This is the same reason I bought a JT.

Thanks! Yea. I already have the TJ for anything crazy. But it's no longer the long road trip reliable vehicle I need it to be.

 

[B34c0n]

Intake is on and in the low mode.

What a PITA to install. I hope I don't have to get at the fuse box soon because it completely blocks the fuse box

 

[B34c0n]

Current mpg is 18.4 after 13k miles. Let's see if anything changes on the mpg. I didn't suspect it will

 

[B34c0n]

Decided to take the next camp trip without the trailer. So with a snorkel and max trax, do I get my official overlander card now?

I cut a little chanel in the truck bed cover to with the rack. The cover still doesn't open very far. But I plan to build a rail system for it later.

 

[B34c0n]

Got my lift hopefully going on this weekend

What I decided on was the iron rock off-road 2 inch spacer for the rear to maintain the max tow springs and 2 inch front lift springs from synergy.

After that I need to choose tires. I'd like to maintain the thinner tires only my 17 inch wheels. But we'll see.

 

[B34c0n]

Been dealing with some wind noise after installing the snorkel. Trying the cape over the gasket trick.

 

[B34c0n]

Got the lift installed.
Waiting on some longer front sway bar links.
Also waiting on a part to adapt the new Bilstein shocks

 

[Free2roam]

Decided to take the next camp trip without the trailer. So with a snorkel and max trax, do I get my official overlander card now?

I cut a little chanel in the truck bed cover to with the rack. The cover still doesn't open very far. But I plan to build a rail system for it later.

Overlander card? Ohhh geezuz!

 

[B34c0n]

Overlander card? Ohhh geezuz!

It must still be in the mail. I collected enough box tops right?

 

[Free2roam]

It must still be in the mail. I collected enough box tops right?

Here ya go! I saved you the effort.

 

[mtbjeeper]

I’d say the first step in getting your overlander card is learning how to climb. Climbing over all the Amazon boxes piled up at your front door. Once you’ve mastered that skill you’ve essentially mastered all the requirements.

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